We know...
As with all our holidays which begin at Kittila Airport you will have the slightly smug satisfaction of turning in the opposite direction from the crowds heading off to the more commercial and purpose built ski resorts. You, on the other hand will be boarding our minibus for your very short transfer to Hotel Kittila.
The town is a traditional, functioning Lappish community. It retains its identity and therefore its authenticity. Here you will get to experience the real Lapland, the real people and a true Arctic wilderness.
Here in the heart of North West Lapland you will find yourself immersed in a vast winter landscape. There is no better way to explore than in the company of an experienced wilderness guide and during our holidays you will be led by the best guides and experience some incredible activities. Welcome to Kittila.
You know...
Your staff are your greatest asset. Without exception they have been helpful, patient and extremely generous with their time. No matter whom I have had dealings with, and no matter how briefly, I always felt that our party was in safe hands. Thank you! Elizabeth Johnston - Jan 11
Suitable for
Suitable for anybody aged 8 years or over.
Duration: 6 or 7 nights
Day 1: Flights, arrival and introduction
After your minute transfer from the airport you will have a welcome dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: Reindeer safari and guided tour of the area
After a welcome meeting and breakfast you head to a reindeer farm where you learn about herding before a 12km safari. A fabulous introduction to the area. Next it’s on to Levi and the fells that surround the resort for a guided tour before heading back to Hotel Kittila for dinner.
Day 3: Cross country skiing
After initial instruction, you will ski through snowy forests during your 2 to 3 hour excursion. The afternoon is free for shopping in Kittila or why not try your hand (or foot!) at snowshoeing?
Day 4: Snowmobile safari to Lainio Snow Village
Today will be unforgettable. Your guides will show you how to drive your snowmobile before you follow the trails to Lainio Snow Village. You will have time to explore the beautiful suites before lunch in the ice restaurant. When you arrive back in Kittila you will have covered around 80km.
Day 5: Free day or optional activities
Today you are free to relax or why not try downhill skiing at nearby Levi? You could even try out your new found Nordic skills and hire cross country skis for the day.
Day 6: Husky safari
It’s difficult to describe the awesome sense of space as you drive your team through this vast and silent landscape. It is certainly something you will never forget. After a short transfer to the husky farm you will be introduced to the dogs and be taught how to handle the sled before leaving on a 5 hour safari. Everybody gets their own team of 4 to 6 huskies who will pull you across frozen rivers, through snowy forests and over expansive winter landscapes.
Day 7: Free day or departure (6 nights duration)
For those people travelling on dates which are 6 nights in duration it is time to say goodbye to Finland. For those staying 7 nights you can fill your free day with a range of additional activities (payable locally) or perhaps stay at Lainio Snow Castle for the night.
Day 8: Departure, transfers and flights (7 nights duration)
Available
Limited places
On request
Pricing Notes
Lainio Snow Village
Opening dates: Thursday 8 December 2011 until Sunday 8 April 2012.
Price includes: Overnight stay, transfers, dinner in the ice restaurant and cold weather clothing.
Getting there
Flights
Flights vary depending on departure date and are based on direct charter flights from Gatwick to Kittila except:
* 7 nights duration with scheduled flights from Heathrow to Kittila (via Helsinki).
** 6 nights duration with scheduled flights from Heathrow to Kittila (via Helsinki)
Manchester & Bristol departures are available subject to availability (supplements will apply).
Please note: Christmas, New Year and February half term dates are 6 nights due to unavailability of direct flights. We have to use more expensive scheduled flights via Helsinki which are unavailable for 7 night options.
Tourism in Finnish Lapland has become the main income source of employment and income replacing traditional industries such as forestry. Development from a period of extractive industry to an industrial society has come about quickly. In 1950 the largest part of Lapland’s inhabitants lived in rural areas and more than half the workforce worked in forestry and agriculture. Today 65 % of the workforce is in the service industry, 22 % in processing and 10 % in primary production.
This huge growth in tourism and service provision has been developed in conjunction with a long-term sustainable tourism plan with one of the primary objectives being to maintain nature in its natural state while guaranteeing the traditional way of life. Much of this has been achieved along with membership of EU development programmes, aimed at diversifying sources of livelihood, effective usage of resources and to increase export.
Approximately a quarter of Lapland's 100 000 strong workforce was unemployed in 1997. Promoting entrepreneurship, ongoing re-education of the workforce and development of the educational system to suit the needs of enterprises is continuing. The target is to diversify the sources of livelihood, increase the value of refinement production and develop new enterprises particularly in the area of tourism. National measures as well as EU-programme measures support this objective.
We embrace this philosophy, employing local activity providers and using only locally owned hotels. In this manner we help to maintain jobs in an area where unemployment was, until recently, very high. Additionally, the use of local suppliers ensures that the tourism spend filters through to local economies via the tourism multiplier effect.